Nga-rfp-012-26 Social Protection Services In Sokoto State - Consultancy Services At Danish Refugee Council (drc)

Purpose of the consultancy

In Sokoto State, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), through the European Union-funded Support for Protection Assistance and Durable Solutions (SPADS) project, seeks to strengthen the foundation for a more inclusive, coordinated, and shock-responsive social protection system. Recognizing the critical role of social protection in reducing poverty, building resilience, and supporting sustainable graduation pathways, DRC plans to undertake a comprehensive social protection consultancy aimed at supporting the Government of Sokoto State to strengthen its institutional architecture, coordination mechanisms, and implementation capacity.

The consultancy will assess the current social protection landscape in Sokoto State and compare it with existing structures and best practices from other states in North-West Nigeria. Particular attention will be given to examining how existing social assistance, social services, livelihoods programming, and economic inclusion initiatives can be better integrated to support pathways that enable vulnerable households to move from dependency to self-reliance. The assessment will identify institutional strengths, system gaps, coordination challenges, and opportunities for aligning social protection interventions with economic recovery and resilience-building initiatives.

A comprehensive actor mapping exercise will be conducted to identify government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, community structures, and private sector actors contributing to social protection outcomes in Sokoto State. This mapping will clarify roles, mandates, service coverage, referral pathways, and coordination arrangements, while highlighting opportunities to improve collaboration and reduce duplication of services.

The assignment will also include a two-day stakeholder workshop bringing together duty bearers at different levels of governance, development partners, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders to review assessment findings, validate recommendations, and identify strategic opportunities for strengthening social protection systems.

Drawing on findings from the assessment, consultations, and capacity-strengthening activities, the consultancy will culminate in the development of a Social Protection Implementation Framework for Sokoto State. The framework will provide a practical roadmap for enhancing coordination mechanisms, improving service delivery systems, integrating economic inclusion and graduation pathways, and promoting resilience to climate, economic, and social shocks. Ultimately, the consultancy aims to support Sokoto State in establishing a more effective and sustainable social protection system that better protects vulnerable populations, promotes self-reliance, and contributes to long-term socio-economic development.

Eligibility, qualification, and experience required

Essential:

Professional Experience

The Consultant should demonstrate:

• A minimum of 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in social protection, poverty reduction, economic inclusion, livelihoods, or institutional systems strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience supporting government-led social protection reforms and policy implementation.
• Proven experience conducting institutional assessments, stakeholder mapping, political economy analysis, and systems diagnostics.
• Experience designing or supporting social protection frameworks, strategies, policies, or implementation plans at national or subnational levels.
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations, technical working groups, and government coordination platforms.
• Strong experience producing high-quality analytical reports, policy papers, and strategic planning documents.

Desirable:

The following will be considered an added advantage:

• Previous experience supporting World Bank, EU, UNICEF, ILO, UNDP, GIZ, or other donor-funded social protection programmes.
• Experience with the National Social Protection Policy and Nigeria's social investment architecture.
• Experience developing State Social Protection Strategies or Implementation Frameworks.
• Knowledge of adaptive social protection, climate financing, and resilience-building programming.
• Experience supporting graduation-focused programming and economic inclusion initiatives.

Eligibility:

Interested consultants must submit:

• A detailed technical proposal outlining methodology and workplan.
• A financial proposal.
• Evidence of previous similar assignments completed within the last five years.
• At least three references from previous consultancies.
• Samples of relevant reports, frameworks, strategies, or assessments previously developed.
• Evidence of registration (for consulting firms) and tax compliance where applicable.

Qualification:

The Lead Consultant should possess:

• An advanced university degree (master's degree or higher) in Social Protection, Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Social Development, International Development, Public Administration, Political Science, Sociology, or related field.
• Additional professional training or certification in social protection, livelihoods, resilience, public sector reform, monitoring and evaluation, or related areas will be considered an advantage.

Location and support

The assignment will be conducted in Sokoto North and South, Sokoto state, Nigeria.

The Consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone and logistics arrangements throughout the consultancy period.

Tender Details

The Tender details are as follows:

• Line
• Item
• Time, date, address as appropriate
• 1
• RFP published
• 22nd September 2026
• 2
• Technical question or clarification
• Send questions or clarification to procurement.nga@drc.ngo
• 3
• Closing date for clarifications
• 28th September 2026 4:00pm Nigeria Time
• 4
• Closing date and time for receipt of Tenders
• 6th October 2026 5:00pm Nigeria Time